Cartridge-guiding device of an automatic gun



April 18, 1967 s. o. WALLIN 3,314,332

CARTRIDGE-GUIDING DEVICE OF AN AUTOMATIC GUN Filed May 19. 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

INVENTOR Sr-EA/ 040v A/mu/v BY \AQMA/b M ATTORNEYS April 18, 1967 Filed May 19. 1965 S- O. WALLIN CARTRIDGE-GUIDING DEVICE OF AN AUTOMATIC GUN Fau a-E1 iip To 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n 9 EL %3 00 m I; v .9 LL

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II/ll i IIVVENTOR STEN 010v K AHLIN BY \AM ATTORNEY April 18, 1967 0, WA 3,314,332

CARTRIDGE-GUIDING DEVICE OF AN AUTOMATIC GUN Filed May 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5- I N VEN TOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,314,332 CARTRIDGE-GUIDlNG DEVICE OF AN AUTOMATIC GUN Sten Olov Wallin, Karlskoga, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Bofors, Bofors, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 456,970 Claims priority, application Sweden, May 21, 1964, 6,202/64 8 Claims. (Cl. 89-45) The present invention relates to a device for guiding cartridges for an automatic gun during ramming and ejection, and more particularly to a device for guiding loaded cartridges into the cartridge chamber of the gun and deflecting the ejected empty cartridge cases after firmg,

They are known cartridge-guiding devices of the general kind above referred to in which, during ramming, a pivotally mounted trough or tongue-shaped guide member guides the cartridge to be rammed along the top side of the guide member into the cartridge chamber and, during ejection, is lifted above the ramming path for deflecting the ejected empty case downwardly by engagement thereof with the bottom side of the guide member.

Guiding devices as just described operate satisfactorily with cartridges the case of which is specially designed for use with automatic guns; that is, with cartridges the case of which has a heavy bottom flange and the projectilereceiving forward end of which is joined to the main portion of the cartridge by a mild or shallow taper so that the shoulder of the case is comparatively smooth. Cartridges having a case of this kind can be rammed into the cartridge chamber of the gun at a high ramming speed, since the shoulder thereof will slide over the rear edge of the cartridge chamber without being subjected to an unduly high impact. However, when it is desired or becomes necessary to use cartridges which are not specifically designed for use with an automatic gun, such as cartridges the case of which has a comparatively thin bottom flange and a comparatively sharp taper and hence a correspondingly more pronounced shoulder between the forward portion of the case and the main portion thereof, the shoulder will strike against the rear edge of the cartridge chamber with such force that parts of the gun and the cartridge itself may be damaged and the functioning of the gun becomes uncertain, even if the ramming velocity is reduced. Such reduction of the ramming velocity in itself is undesirable, since it entails a corresponding reduction of the firing rate of the gun.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved cartridge-guiding device which permits the use of either type of cartridges without danger of damage to the gun or the cartridge proper, and without requiring a reduction of the ramming velocity and thus of the firing rate of the gun.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and imprpved cartridge-guiding device of the general kind above referred to, the guide member of which is positioned during the initial part of the ramming operation so that the cartridge to be rammed is lifted into a position in which the shoulder portion of the cartridge case can smoothly slide into the cartridge chamber even though the shoulder is sharply pronounced.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims consituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the cartridge-guidingdevice according to the invention;

3,314,332 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 "ice FIG. 2 is an elevational side view showing one stage of the ramming operation;

FIG. 3 is a similar elevational view, partly in section, showing a more advanced stage of the ramming operation; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the principal components of the cartridge-guiding device.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the exemplified guiding device comprises a rammer 1 for ramming a loaded cartridge 20 into a cartridge chamber 6a of a gun barrel 6.

The cartridge to be rammed is moved into the ramming position by means of a convention-a1 loading tube 2 which may be pivoted from the illustrated vertical position into a position aligned with the cartridge chamber 6w by a linkage system 2a, also conventional. The cartridge, when being rammed, is guided into chamber 6a by an elongated guide member 3, shown in the form of a shallow trough or tongue. The guide member is supported by a bracket 3a pivotal about a pin 4.

The guide member performs a dual function, namely, as stated, to guide the cartridge into the cartridge chamber 6a and to deflect an empty cartridge case ejected after firing, To effect deflection of a cartridge case, guide member 3 is pivoted into a position in which its forward end is above the peripheral outline of the rim 7 of cartridge chamber 60. The present invention is not concerned with the deflecting function of guide member 3, which is assumed to be conventional, but is concerned with the guiding function thereof during ramming. This guiding action will now be described more in detail.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, which shows the position of guide member 3 prior to the beginning of the ramming operation and during the first part thereof, the guide member is held in a slightly slanted position in reference to the center axis of cartridge chamber 60: and clear of a breech block 5 of the gun. The guide member is held in this position by means of a lengthwise displaceable rod 9 preferably terminating in an enlarged head portion of nose 8. Nose 8, which constitutes an abutment member, rests upon a support member 17, shown as a spring-loaded plunger slidable in a cylinder 18 fixedly secured by a bracket 19 or other suitable means to a stationary portion of the gun. Rod 9 is urged by a spring 10 held in a casing 10a into a forward position; that is, into a position in which nose 8 rests upon plunger 17. The end of rod 9 opposite to the head portion is linked to one arm of a two-arm lever 11 by any suitable means, such as a slotted head portion 9a engaged by the respective arm of lever 11. The lever is pivotal about a pin 12, and its other arm is linked to one end of a lengthwise displaceable rod 13. The other end of rod 13 is coupled to an arm 14 pivotal about a stationarily mounted pin 14a. Arm 14 terminates in a nose or lug 15 engageable with a dog 16 of rammer 1. The rammer itself does not constitute part of the present invention. It suflices to state that the rammer 1 will move toward the left as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 during the ramming operation and will carry with it dog 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2 which, as previously stated, shows an initial stage of the ramming operation, it can be seen from this figure that guide member 3 is held in its slightly elevated position in reference to breech block 5 and cartridge chamber 6a by nose 8 resting upon a plunger 17. As a result, the shoulder 20a of cartridge 20, which is shown to be comparatively steep or pronounced, will safely and smoothly pass the rim 7 at the entrance end of the cartridge chamber. When now rammer 1, and with it dog 16, continue to to move toward the left, lug 15 becomes engaged with dog 16. As a result, arm 14 is pivoted, thereby moving nose 8 from the position of FIG. 2 into the position of FIG. 3, in which the nose no longer rests upon plunger 17. Consequently, guide member 3 falls down into the position of FIG. 3, in which it rests upon breech block 5, thereby placing cartridge 20 into a position in which the wider and cylindrical main portion thereof can 'be rammed into the cartridge chamber. FIG. 3 shows the cartridge nearly fully rammed home.

After firing, breech block 5 moves downwardly and rammer 1 moves toward the right; that is, into a position in which lug is again on the left side of dog 16, as shown in FIG. 2.

The guide member has been pivoted during the ejection period into its afore-described elevated position for deflecting of the ejected case by suitable and conventional elevating means, not illustrated, as they do not constitute part of the invention. Upon completion of the ejection operation, guide member 3 is released; that is, it will return into the position shown in FIG. 2, nose 8 having returned into the position of FIG. 2 in the meantime.

The device is now ready for a new operational cycle.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for guiding a loaded cartridge while being rammed into the cartridge chamber of an automatic gun and for deflecting an empty cartridge case downwardly when ejected during firing, a cartridge guide member movable in reference to the cartridge chamber between a lower ramming position and an upper ramming position, said guide member in its upper ramming position guiding the forward portion and in its lower raming position the rear portion of the cartridge to be rammed into the cartridge chamber, releasable means holding said guide memher in said upper ramming position, ramming means forwardly movable in reference to said guide member for ramming a loaded cartridge into the cartridge chamber, and actuating means coacting with said releasable means for releasing the same when the ramming means has completed a predetermined first part of its ramming movement, release of said releasable means freeing said guide member for movement into its lower ramming position.

2. In a device for guiding a loaded cartridge while being rammed into the cartridge chamber of an automatic gun and for deflecting an empty cartridge case downwardly when ejected during firing, a cartridge guide member movable in reference to the cartridge chamber between a lower ramming position and an upper ramming position, said guide member in its upper ramming position guiding the forward portion and in its lower ramming position the rear portion of the cartridge to be rammed into the cartridge chamber, releasable means holding said guide member in its upper ramming position, ramming means forwardly movable for ramming a loaded cartridge into the cartridge chamber, and control means controlled by said ramming means and. controlling said releasable means for actuating the same when the ramming means completes a first predetermined part of its ramming movement, release of said releasable means freeing the guide means for movement into said lower ramming position.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said guide member comprises a pivotally mounted tongue.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said releasable means comprise a support member, and an abutment member displaceably mounted on the guide member, said support member and said abutment member being engageable with each other, engagement of said members holding the guide member in its upper ramming position, and wherein said control means coact with said abutment member to move the same out of engagement with the support member upon completion of said first part of the ramming movement, disengagement of the support member and the abutment member releasing the guide member for movement into its lower ramming position.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein spring means bias said abutment member into engagement with the support member.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said support member comprises a spring-loaded, displaceably mounted member.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means comprise transmission means including an input member actuated by the ramming means when the latter have moved through said predetermined first part of the ramming movement and an output member actuated by the input member for moving the abutment member out of engagement with the support member.

8. A device according to claim 2, wherein said releasable means comprise a support member, and an abutment member displaceably mounted on the guide member, said support member and said abutment member being engageable with each other, engagement of said members holding the guide member in its upper ramming position, and wherein said control means comprise a linkage means including a lengthwise displaceable rod, a first pivotal link linked to one end of said rod and extending into the path of movement of said ramming means and a second pivotal link linked to the other end of said rod and coacting with said abutment member, said first link being positioned to be pivoted by said ramming means when the same has moved through said first predetermined part of the ramming movement, said pivotal movement of the first link causing a corresponding pivotal movement of the second link, said pivotal movement of the second link moving the abutment member out of engagement with the support member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,135 8/1952 Aldrin 8945 2,907,251 10/1959 Sahlberg 8947 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner, S. C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR GUIDING A LOADED CARTRIDGE WHILE BEING RAMMED INTO THE CARTRIDGE CHAMBER OF AN AUTOMATIC GUN AND FOR DEFLECTING AN EMPTY CARTRIDGE CASE DOWNWARDLY WHEN EJECTED DURING FIRING, A CARTRIDGE GUIDE MEMBER MOVABLE IN REFERENCE TO THE CARTRIDGE CHAMBER BETWEEN A LOWER RAMMING POSITION AND AN UPPER RAMMING POSITION, SAID GUIDE MEMBER IN ITS UPPER RAMMING POSITION GUIDING THE FORWARD PORTION AND IN ITS LOWER RAMING POSITION THE REAR PORTION OF THE CARTRIDGE TO BE RAMMED INTO THE CARTRIDGE CHAMBER, RELEASABLE MEANS HOLDING SAID GUIDE MEMBER IN SAID UPPER RAMMING POSITION, RAMMING MEANS FORWARDLY MOVABLE IN REFERENCE TO SAID GUIDE MEMBER FOR RAMMING A LOADED CARTRIDGE INTO THE CARTRIDGE CHAMBER, AND ACTUATING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID RELEASABLE MEANS FOR RELEASING THE SAME WHEN THE RAMMING MEANS HAS COMPLETED A PREDETERMINED FIRST PART OF ITS RAMMING MOVEMENT, RELEASE OF SAID RELEASABLE MEANS FREEING SAID GUIDE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT INTO ITS LOWER RAMMING POSITION. 